Civil Aviation

Indian and Singapore signed a revised MOU on Air services on 2nd April 2013 during the visit of Shri Ajit Singh, Hon'ble Minister for Civil Aviation to Singapore. The revised MOU rationalises the seating capacity and also increases the seating capacity between the two countries by about 10%, considering the increased economic activity between the two countries which requires better air connectivity. This revised capacity is in addition to unlimited seating capacity to 18 points in India which is available for all the ASEAN countries, including Singapore. The 18 points are Patna, Lucknow, Guwahati, Gaya, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Khajuraho, Aurangabad, Goa, Jaipur, Port Blair, Cochin, Thiruvanantapuram, Calicut, Amritsar, Vishakhapatnam, Ahmadabad and Tiruchirapally.

India's Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Ajit Singh and Singapore's Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew shake hands after the signing of the revised MOU on Air Services in April 2013.

Singapore and India had signed their Air Services Agreement (ASA) in January 1968 and revised it in Jun-02. Thereafter, the ASA was further revised on 25-Aug-05. In addition, signing of India - Singapore (Memorandum of Understanding) on 11th July 2006 and another MOU on 9th January 2007 regarding Air Services between the two countries also contributed to setting up the framework of cooperation in this sector.

Besides, the India - Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, 2005 (CECA), Chapter 8, also deals with Air Services. Under CECA, India and Singapore have reaffirmed their rights and obligations under previous agreements. They also recognize the importance of air connectivity to support the expansion of tourism, trade and investments. The strategic partnership in civil aviation and the importance of air connectivity to support the expansion of tourism, trade and investments between both countries has also been recognised. It was also agreed to review and enhance their bilateral ASA and explore further areas of mutually beneficial co-operation to fully harness the benefits of CECA, 2005.